Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory was greeted at Memorial Hall by an energetic crowd filled with streetcar supporters, including many members of City Council and several of the partners and stakeholders in the project.

"With today's groundbreaking, we're turning the page in Cincinnati, from talking about why we need to build a streetcar to actually building a streetcar," Mallory said. "The path has been long. It's been full of challenges. It's been questioned. It's been put to the task, but I think all of you know that this is worth doing, and anything that's worth doing is going to take some effort to get done."

Among those in attendance was U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, whose department provided much of the funding for the multimillion dollar project. LaHood thanked the mayor and City Manager Milton Dohoney for fighting for the project.

"Some of you in the room, you're probably not going to ride on this streetcar," LaHood said as the crowd laughed, "but they are," he said pointing to two children at the back of the room who were too shy to stand with him.

"You provided the next generation of transportation for the next generation. You've done it selflessly," LaHood added.

LaHood also touted the economic benefits of having a streetcar in Cincinnati.

"This is not just a streetcar, it's an economic corridor. It's going to create jobs along the corridor. It's going to connect communities," LaHood said.

Dohoney echoed LaHood's sentiments about economic development, pointing to businesses expanding or relocating in the downtown area -- Dunnhumby USA, Omnicare, Kao Brands, Nielsen Media -- as well as increased population in the city's center, The Banks development and the upcoming casino.

"No one is saying that the streetcar alone will solve all our problems. But it will work with other things going on here," Dohoney said.

Dohoney also pointed to the future, a common theme from Friday's news conference, and hinted at future plans for transportation development.

"This is a beginning, because it must be developed into a system that works in tandem with a full transportation network for the entire region," Dohoney said.

After the opening ceremony, the crowds went out onto Elm Street in front of Memorial Hall for the groundbreaking in which pieces of cobblestone were lifted from the street.

Despite the self-congratulatory enthusiasm of the event, there are still several unanswered questions about some of the funding and operational costs.

The city and Duke Energy are at odds over moving utility lines along the streetcar route. The city has budgeted $6.3 million to move the lines, but Duke said its estimates put the cost at $18.6 million.

Duke has said it does not want to pass any costs on to ratepayers.

The city and Duke have expressed optimism that they will somehow work out a deal, but as of the groundbreaking no deal had been announced.

Opponents of the project continue to question the finances and whether the project will ever be completed.

"It's still open for argument whether it's going to go forward or not," said Tom Brinkman with the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending & Taxes, or COAST. "I don't believe they have the financing. ? I think they know they don't have the financing."